R.E.N.E.W.: Removing Every Negative Emotion & Word

By Marquis Cooper Sr. and Tina Duffy

The R.E.N.E.W. curriculum sheds light on the past while opening up the lines of communication and shifting the vicious cycle of negativity that is occurring at schools, homes, and college campuses every day. Students will fully be able to recognize & break down the how & why of their current situation. Through this curriculum, students will gain a more clear perspective of how to fix the issues they're faced with while analyzing them as well. The curriculum provides practical advice on how to identify, approach, and move toward solutions to close the communication gap which currently plagues many students, parents, and educators in our society. Here's what other participants are saying about R.E.N.E.W.

The R.E.N.E.W. curriculum is so powerful that one cannot read through the curriculum without doing some self reflection. I challenge ALL people in leadership roles to utilize the RENEW curriculum and witness the difference it can make within their organization.- Jessica Foreman- Baker Elementary 5th grade teacher- Pulaski County Special School District

"The R.E.N.E.W. curriculum will change lives! It motivates one to believe that their imagination for their future, must be greater than the memories of their past. I wish this curriculum was available to me when I was a teenager. It would have changed my life and my choices tremendously. - Claudette W. Holt, MS- Conway, AR

Before I started R.E.N.E.W. Dyamond was Dyamond meaning I said what I felt whether it hurt others or not. Now I take my time, step back, breathe and say ok.- Dyamond Stephenson- Maumelle High School

The R.E.N.E.W. curriculum will be an essential tool for all clinicians to utilize with adolescents in their practice. This tool will assist the adolescent population with connecting their emotions with their behaviors. It will also give them a better understanding of why they do what they do.Freda Thomas, LCSW, CART- Private Practitioner- Texarkana, AR

I am truly inspired to help create positive change within our children.- Sonja Hopkins-Hubbard- Crystal Hill Elementary Home School Counselor- Pulaski County School District

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 20, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477253700

Marquis Cooper Sr.

Marquis Cooper, Sr. is a 1994 graduate of Lee High School in Marianna, AR. He obtained the following degrees: a Bachelor of Arts degree from Philander Smith College, a Master’s degree in counseling from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and is currently writing his dissertation to attain his Doctorate in Educational Administration at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He is a licensed counselor for grades K-12 in the states of Tennessee and Arkansas. Since 1996 he has served as an advocate for children at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. In 2009 he became the school counselor at Star Academy which was a dropout prevention/credit recovery program for students in the Pulaski County Special School District. Presently, he serves as the 9th grade counselor at Maumelle High School in the Pulaski County Special School District. Cooper is an accomplished educator. He has graced the stage of audiences in Arkansas, Indianapolis, Tennessee, and Texas where he has presented jaw dropping presentations for the National Center for Youth Issues and National Counseling Associations. A side from his educational duties for the school systems, Cooper also put efforts in place to reach youth in his hometown. He is President of the "Our Story" Youth Leadership Conference. This is an annual event that takes place in his hometown of Marianna, Arkansas each year. Our Story is for former graduates to reunite each year to impact the lives ofchildren, parents, and educators in the community. So far his organization has planted 10 scholarships back into the students of the Marianna community. Cooper has written and published two books over the last four years. Guidance ~N~ Action in 2008 and Sista let me tell ya, Bruh if you only knew, Real Talk for Parents and Educators, From Me to You in 2010. Cooper plans to publish his next curriculum for grades 7-12 by July 2012. Cooper has been featured in the African American Perspective Magazine on two different occasions, and he now writes monthly articles for volar online magazine. He coined the phrase, “If you leave and grow, you can come back and plant.” He continues to plant seeds of success and change by helping others understand that your current circumstance does not dictate your future. Marquis is the youngest of 22 children in his family. He is a proud husband and father of two children, Marquis and Cobie Cooper. Cooper currently resides in Little Rock, AR, and serves as the youth minister at Greater Center Star M.B. Church.

Book preview

© 2012 Marquis Cooper, Sr. M.Ed (ABD) & Tina Duffy. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 8/14/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-5372-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-5370-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012913491

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Suggestions for Using This Manual

Suggested Timeline (With or WOut the Book)

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Tips for Graduating Seniors

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Appendix D

Real Talk from Me to You

Real Talk from Me to You

Author’s Corner

Endnotes

About the Authors@

What teenagers, educators, and parents are saying about R.E.N.E.W.

The R.E.N.E.W. curriculum is so powerful that one cannot read through the curriculum without doing some self reflection. I challenge ALL people in leadership roles to utilize the RENEW curriculum and witness the difference it can make within their organization.- Jessica Foreman- Baker Elementary 5th grade teacher- Pulaski County Special School District

This curriculum breaks down your thought process. I think it can be very beneficial to adults and educators as well. I really enjoyed it and I’m certain you will too.- Breia Patterson- Maumelle High School

My attitude has gotten a lot better. I am maturing more each day thinking of what I learned in this R.E.N.E.W. program.- Chastity Moore- Maumelle High School

I was very hard headed when I started the R.E.N.E.W. curriculum, but now all my grades are no lower than B’s and my behavior is a lot better. This curriculum helps people change for the better not the worse.- Jamal Nwachuku- Maumelle High School

The R.E.N.E.W. curriculum will change lives! It motivates one to believe that their imagination for their future, must be greater than the memories of their past. I wish this curriculum was available to me when I was a teenager. It would have changed my life and my choices tremendously. - Claudette W. Holt, MS- Conway, AR

It has helped me a lot with my behavior, how I act towards others and my grades are a lot better. The R.E.N.E.W. sessions have really helped me a lot.- Brittany Thompson- Maumelle High School

Before I started R.E.N.E.W. Dyamond was Dyamond meaning I said what I felt whether it hurt others or not. Now I take my time, step back, breathe and say ok.- Dyamond Stephenson- Maumelle High School

The R.E.N.E.W. group has had a very powerful impact on me not just with school but with life itself.- Tiana Tucker- Maumelle High School

I think anyone could benefit from this program because it teaches you what you think you already know that you really don’t know.- Marcia Daniels- Maumelle High School

The curriculum teaches you not only how to stay focused in school, but also how to stay focused in life.- Tyshun Robinson- Maumelle High School

The R.E.N.E.W. curriculum will be an essential tool for all clinicians to utilize with adolescents in their practice. This tool will assist the adolescent population with connecting their emotions with their behaviors. It will also give them a better understanding of why they do what they do.

Freda Thomas, LCSW, CART- Private Practitioner- Texarkana, AR

I saw myself as being useless to my parents. Now I wake up, work, and do the best I can each and every day.- Moesha Smith- Maumelle High School

I really learned a lot about relationships. It helped me understand that I didn’t need all that and I don’t deserve to get treated like that.- Analilia Atilano- Maumelle High School

Being a part of R.E.N.E.W. allowed me to take back control of my life.- Nad’Deka Mays- Maumelle High School

I get along with my family better and I’ve become a better person. I finally realized who I am and how I need to be.- Kirsten Farnam- Maumelle High School

When I first started I thought I knew it all but then I started listening. I’ve learned a lot of valuable life lessons.- Paige Smith- Maumelle High School

I am truly inspired to help create positive change within our children.- Sonja Hopkins-Hubbard- Crystal Hill Elementary Home School Counselor- Pulaski County School District

R.E.N.E.W. has given me time to be inspired and to think about my grades. I’ve learned how to deal with certain family issues a lot better.- John Henry- Maumelle High School

Before I started the R.E.N.E.W. group I was doing bad at everything but now I’m doing everything I need to.- Kennedy Robinson- Maumelle High School

I have started to focus more on my work. I learned how important it is for me to be successful.- Sidney McCoy- Maumelle High School

My attitude is a lot better and my grades have improved.- Trevor Johnese- Maumelle High School

I saw myself as a good person but off track, but now I’m a better person that’s on track. I still struggle from time to time but I’m a lot better.- Kevin Williamson- Maumelle High School

Before I saw myself not passing, not trying in school, and now I see myself doing better and being prepared for next school year.- Tati-Yana Williams- Maumelle High School

It made me a better person.- Domonique Hobson- Maumelle High School

My attitude has been a lot better since being a part of the R.E.N.E.W. group.- Andrea Bunting- Maumelle High School

Acknowledgements

First and foremost I want to thank God for giving me the vision to write this curriculum at such a time as this. I want to thank the greatest individuals in my life, my wife Karmen Parker Cooper, my wonderful children Marquis and Cobie Cooper, and ALL my students (my other sons and daughters). I want to thank my parents who instilled in me the courage to finish what I started. I know you’re no longer with me physically, but the values you instilled in me will live forever. I want to thank all of my brothers and sisters (all18), my good friends Tiffany Wright and Tamika Washington, and all the supportive people that believed this curriculum would help to change the lives of teenagers, educators, and parents across the country. I want to thank my mentors Mrs. Virginia Abrams and Gene Elms for always believing in me. I want to thank Sheryl Alexander and the teenagers at Greater Center Star M.B. Church. I want to thank the administrative staff and the entire 9th grade PLC team (especially Mrs. Lori Lachowsky) at Maumelle High School. I also want to thank the 2011-2012 9th grade students at Maumelle